“I’ve looked up to Mum and Dad my whole life,” Hamish Kerr had said to Now To Love in July 2024, just days before he would land the Paris Olympics Gold medal in high jumps. In case anyone hasn’t seen it, it was one of the most bizarre contests in that year’s Olympics. Both Kerr and his competitor, Shelby McEwen, kept knocking over the bar. So much so that the bar height was brought down to 2.38m, then 2.36, and so on. Eventually, after 11 straight failed attempts, Kerr jumped cleanly over the bar at 2.34m, and we had a winner. Where does Kerr find such determination and persistence? Well, right at home.

After all, his parents are such high achievers. From them he learned the habits of successful people and that in turn has made him an Olympic Champion. So, who are the accomplished parents of Hamish Kerr? And how did they exactly impact his track and field journey?

Who is Hamish Kerr’s Father?

The Olympian’s father is Dr. Andrew Kerr, a renowned and award-winning cardiologist in New Zealand. Working at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital since 2000, Dr. Andrew Kerr served as the Clinical Head of Cardiology between 2001 and 2014. Besides being a physician, he has also been extensively involved in research and teaching.

Andrew Kerr got his undergraduate training at the University of Otago, and his Cardiology training from Dunedin Hospital. After that, he completed his Fellowship in cardiac echo-cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital as well as Harvard Medical School. This is not just an impressive CV. It is an authentication of the high ability of Hamish Kerr’s father. So, it might be surprising for you when we tell you that Hamish’s father was awarded the New Zealand Cardiac Medal in 2021. It was a medal given to him to acknowledge the outstanding contribution he had made to making heart care better for New Zealanders.

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And as for his influence on the 2024 Work Indoor Champion, the High jumper said, “I didn’t idolise athletes when I was growing up. But Dad’s work ethic and his commitment to achieving his goals is as strong as any athlete I’ve ever met.” We can see that quite easily. Continuing, the 28-year-old said, “He’s the perfect example of how the habits and routines of high performers can be found in anyone, not just Olympians.”

Clearly, his father has been the person who has inculcated the habits of discipline, determination, and work ethic into the Oceanian record holder. Now, what about Hamish Kerr’s mother? Do we know anything about her?

Who is Hamish’s Mother?

We do know a little bit about the woman who raised the boy who would go on to become the 2022 Commonwealth Champion in the High Jump event. Her name is Bridget Kerr, and she, like her husband, is in healthcare service. She is a Speech Language Therapist at the Auckland Regional Public Health Service. Talking about his mom to the New Zealand Herald in April 2022, Hamish Kerr says, “What mum did to raise us, all the effort and energy, it was a huge motivator for me.”

Continuing, he told us how she has been a role model for her son: “If they can do all these things and juggle all that stuff and still have time to make me feel like number one in the world, then there’s no reason why I can’t.” What else? Oh, guess who was there to accompany him to his first international competition? Both mother and son were all smiles, knowing they were putting the effort in. The result was bound to follow.

There is not much information available about Bridget Kerr other than this. Hamish Kerr, from time to time, posts photos of them together on Instagram. It’s clear that she is the nurturing and caring support behind the high jumper in his long and successful journey.

What is Hamish Kerr’s Parents’ nationality?

Hamish Kerr’s parents, Andrew and Bridget Kerr, are New Zealanders. They live together in Karekare, a small west Auckland beach town. Both Andrew and Bridget are as busy with their invaluable services as Hamish Kerr is getting ready for the next challenge. He and many other competitors from all over the world are preparing for the upcoming World Indoor Championships.

Hamish has had the goal in mind for a while. To clear 2.40m. Does he do it at the World Indoors in Nanjing?